Crystal clear The editorial board of the Oakland Tribune in a Feb. 14 op-ed cited the findings of California Aware, which gave the University of California (UC) system a failing grade for their response to records request. The board noted that the California State University system earned an overall B rating from the same group and noted that SF State, among others, received an A-plus rating for diligence and devotion to transparency.

Women in politics Director of Government Relations Lisbet Sunshine commented for a Feb. 14 Sacramento Bee report on the state of women in American politics, which concluded that women need to be encouraged and trained for success in politics. "I've been thinking about this for 20 years," Sunshine said. "The most valuable thing is to state affirmatively what you want. Once you state it, you can get there."

Backyard buzz Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Great Sunflower Project Gretchen LeBuhn said in a Feb. 11 Winston-Salem Journal article that anyone can observe whether bees are doing a sufficient job of pollination through simple, timed observations. The nationwide Great Sunflower Project aims to learn more about the effects of urban areas and parks on the behavior and effectiveness of bees. "I have a hope that after the initial analysis we can get participants to test some of the remedies, to change what they are doing and see what we can do to improve things," LeBuhn said.

Egyptian triumph Associate Professor of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Dina Ibrahim described her mother's reaction to the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in a Feb. 11 ABC7-TV interview. "She was beyond overjoyed." Ibrahim said. "Still couldn't believe it, still pinching herself and just beside herself with joy."